[Zareth's POV]
The scratch of a quill against parchment filled my office as I finished the last line of a report. Kion sat across from me, arms folded loosely over his chest, golden mane catching the light like a crown. He looked every bit the warrior he was, even when sitting still. We had been discussing… delicate matters — the boy, Aaron, and the growing signs of possession.
I rubbed the bridge of my nose. "If your suspicions are right, and it's only a ritual gone wrong, then—"
*Knock. Knock.*
My head lifted at the sound, voice firm but calm. "Enter."
The door creaked open.
Jack walked in, his little group trailing close behind. Their steps were cautious, tense, like they were ready for a fight but hadn't decided if one was coming yet.
The wolf-eared boy, Ark, stayed nearest to him, protective without even realizing it.
Zek, the kobold's tail flicked nervously, and the half-Orc Orin's eyes darted across the room like a hawk.
And lastly, the Lizardman, Araki, trailed behind, broad frame stiff, as though ready to jump into action.
But what struck me wasn't their posture.
It was Jack's expression.
He looked confused. Not guarded, not wary. Confused — staring directly at Kion as though he'd seen something he didn't expect, or something missing.
'What's that about?'
I cleared my throat, setting aside the quill. "Welcome. Thank you for coming."
Jack's gaze shifted between me and Kion, then back to me. His voice was steady, but there was an edge beneath it. "Was anyone else in this room a minute ago?"
I blinked. "No. It's been the two of us for the last hour."
That seemed to unsettle them. The group exchanged looks, quiet tension threading through their stances. Jack's eyes locked on Kion.
"Then… who are you?"
Kion shifted, but didn't stand. Instead, he placed a fist against his chest with formal precision. His voice rumbled, low but commanding. "Kion Goldmane. S-rank adventurer."
The silence that followed was heavy.
Zek's blue-scaled jaw dropped. "You mean… 'the' Goldmane? The King's right hand?"
The group froze, shock spreading like wildfire.
Kion chuckled, a warm but sharp sound. "I am. Though I would appreciate some discretion. My presence here is… unofficial."
The four nodded in near unison, still stunned.
But Jack… Jack didn't even flinch. His expression barely shifted, blank as still water. He looked at Kion, then spoke in a quiet voice.
"Goldmane. That's your actual last name?"
Kion straightened, a glint of pride and sorrow mixing on his face. "It is."
Araki's face went pale. His green-scaled hand flexed as he muttered, "Oh… fuck."
Ark's ears flicked. "What is it?"
Jack inhaled slowly. His gaze swept the group. "What's Aaron's last name?"
The question landed like a blade.
One by one, the realization hit them. Orin's smirk faltered, Ark's tail drooped, Zek's eyes widened. Even Araki's mutter died on his tongue.
Their faces paled.
Jack turned back to Kion, his voice quieter now. "What's your relationship with Aaron Goldmane?"
Kion froze. His hand lowered from his chest. "…My nephew. Born into our tribe in Bestia. I left when he was three. Family tension. I don't know if he remembers me. But… I'd like to help him, if I can."
Jack's stare didn't soften. "Are you sure it's the same Aaron? The Aaron we know is a rogue. Could be a false name."
Kion's jaw worked, then he shook his head slowly. "Unlikely. There wouldn't be another."
Jack leaned forward slightly. "What did he look like? As a child. Anything that would've carried into his teens."
Kion's brow furrowed, digging through memory. "He was… skinny. For a leonin, at least. Never had the muscle that most of our younglings grew into. But not weak, not unhealthy — just built differently."
He hesitated. "And… he had a dark brown patch of fur on the back of his right shoulder."
Jack nodded grimly. "Would your tribe treat him well? Or would they…"
Kion's ears folded back. He looked down, mane falling forward like a shadow. "…My brother valued strength. It's possible he was bullied or harmed. But I've been gone too long to know."
Jack's sigh was sharp, heavy. "What colour was his mane?"
Kion blinked, confused. "Why does that matter? Our name is Goldmane. The answer should be obvious."
I felt the realization stir even in me. My chest tightened.
Jack's eyes hardened. "Answer."
"…Golden brown," Kion said finally.
Orin leaned forward, sharp gaze flicking to Jack. "Then… the shadow changed it?"
Jack's shoulders sagged slightly, like a man carrying weight too heavy for his age.
He nodded. "Yes, that's him. But you should know that Aaron's mane is black now. Dark purple at the edges. And… he uses shadow magic."
Kion's breath hitched. His hands curled into fists. "That… That's impossible. He had no gift for magic. We tested him as a child. Nothing."
Jack looked to me. His voice was quieter now, but the gravity in it was unmistakable. "Do you have a room here that can isolate us? One that can block… outer eyes?"
My brows furrowed. "If you mean who I think you mean, then why would we need to shield against them? It's not like they are involved... right?"
Jack stared at me with an expectant glance.
I sighed and answered anyway. "I can shield us, but not that well. My wards are strong, but not strong enough to keep them out."
Jack nodded as though he expected that. "Then is there a more secure place?"
"…Yes," I admitted after a pause. "Follow me."
I stood, cloak shifting around my shoulders. Everyone else fell in behind me, Jack's presence at the center like the quiet pull of a storm. Kion followed last, eyes distant, grief and guilt warring in his gaze.
-
[Jack's POV]
We followed Zareth to another room.
He knocked on the door before entering.
Inside, we found a table and chairs, with boards on the walls. Clearly, he brought us to a meeting room.
We all filed in, and everyone took a seat around the table.
As Zareth was going to close the door, I stopped him.
"Don't lock us in. It will look too suspicious if I add another seal in," I said.
He looked at me in confusion before nodding and simply closing the door, not sealing the demiplane.
I let out a sigh and began to chant.
"Through the silence that binds the breath,
Where forgotten gods whisper death,
From realms beyond where stars forget,
Let none gaze in, nor claim what's kept.
No eye divine, no thought may pry,
This truth is sealed beneath a sky.
Of empty void and shadowed flame,
All knowledge here shall bear no name."
A pulse of powerful energy flowed out from me as I cast [Null Invocation] and enveloped the room.
I looked at everyone and saw my friends with worried expressions. Kion, with a confused look, looked around.
Finally, Zareth was... horrified.
His face pale as can be as he stared at me in horror.
Though, to be honest, I can't blame him. [Null Invocation] is a powerful isolation spell that even he can't cast without major repercussions, and he is the Devil of Isolation, so of course, he knows it.
"...H...h-how are you... able to... cast that?" he asked in pure shock, terror, and awe.
I glanced at him with a cold expression before turning to the table and taking a seat.
I took a moment to get my thoughts in order, and thankfully, no one bothered me.
My friends, of course, already know me well enough and our current situation, so they know not to bother me.
As for Kion, even though he has no idea what I did, he knows that an S-rank like Zareth reacting like that means I am more powerful than he realizes.
After a few minutes, I looked up and saw Zareth had also taken a seat, a little distracted but calmed down enough.
I looked at him and asked, "What do you know about the origins of the Dark Raven and his powers?"
Zareth looked at me and sighed. "I guess you noticed the similarities, too. I was going to bring it up anyway, but here we are."
He rubbed his face before standing up. "For those who don't know, the Dark Raven is the alias of an S-rank adventurer who is currently in the city of Raventhorn, though I have no idea where.
He is a swordsman and shadow sorcerer like your friend Aaron. In fact, I have reason to believe his origin is the same as Aaron's. The only difference is that the entity learned from its failure with Raven and is trying again with Aaron."
"Entity?" Kion asked.
Both Zareth and I nodded.
"Yes. Raven was originally a warlock with a shadow spirit as his patron. However, the shadow was attempting to possess Raven's body and take it for itself.
Raven didn't realize at first, but when he noticed, he was already in the city and asked me for help. I did so, and with a lot of work... and me almost dying, we managed to exorcise the shadow spirit from Raven's body before any permanent damage was done.
Raven maintained his shadow magic and abilities he got while it was still inside of him and was renamed as a sorcerer. This was around 20 years ago now, and I have reason to believe that Raven is also after Aaron and using his investigation of a cult as a cover. Though for what reason he isn't sure."
Panicked, I quickly asked, "Are you sure Raven's patron is the same as Aaron's?"
He nodded, "I didn't realize it last week when I saw Aaron and the ordeal with the shadow was a long time ago, but when I talked to Raven the other day, he mentioned his patron had returned. It was shortly after then that I made the connection."
"Fuck. Ok, well that explains that..." I mumbled, looking at my hand.
Leaving the thought for later, I let out a tense breath and turned to Kion.
"What are you willing to do to help Aaron?" I asked.
"Anything!" he said with true conviction. "I failed him once by not coming back to help him. I won't let some spirit hurt him anymore."
I stared at him and asked a question that sent a shiver down his and Zareth's spines.
"What if it isn't a spirit that is possessing Aaron?"
His brows furrowed. "What do you mean? Is it not a spirit?"
I stared at him and said nothing.
"Is it a demon?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly.
I shook my head. "No, it's not a demon."
...
"It's a God."